THE VIEW HILL MURDER.

Press, Volume LIII, Issue 15871, 10 April 1917, Page 6

THE VIEW HILL MURDER.

ACCUSED BEFORE THE

COURT.

EVIDENCE AT THE INQUEST.

At tho inquest on Henrietta Louisa Foster, who was found dead with her throat cut in the kitchen of her parents' residenco at View Hill station on Sunday, the details given were chiefly an amplification of the facts as set out in yesterday's issue. Tho principal new matter that came out was a statement by Dr. Bagley, of Oxford, to the effect that about ft month ago Charles Butler, who has been arrested in connexion with the alleged crimo of having murdered Miss Foster, consulted him with regard to his (Butler's) mental condition, and that lie (Dr. Bagley) had advised him to go to Christchurch. Dr. Bagley did not go into details, the Coroner holding that the evidence that the doctor coyld give on this matter was not required for the purposes of tho inquest. It is probable that the details will be given at Butler's trial at tho Magistrate's Court at Oxford on Friday. As far as has yet been ascertained no definite cause has been found for the deed that Butler is alleged to committed. An element of impulse appears to have been present, although a certain amount of premeditation seems to be indicated by the fact thai the case of tho razor, alleged to have been used by Butler, w.ns found in Butler's whare. View Hill station is some ten miles beyond Oxford, towards tho hills, rnc l . is reached by a good road. Mr I'outer's, the manager's, house some distance back from tho road from which it is just visible. It is a wooden structure, all on one floor, nud appears to havo been added to from time to time. In its vicinily are several farm buildings, but the ue-iiest house is a considerable distance away. From what a representative of Press" was able to glean yesterday Butler did not show, to those who came in contact with hint any sij,ns of being other than in his normal condition till a. few days prior to the terrible happening of Sunday. It is understood that Butler was going to leave View Hill station early this week, and tho suggestion is that this upset him to some extent.

ACCUSED I TO APPEAR AT OXFORD ON FRIDAY. Charles Butler appeared before Mr H. W. Bishop, S.M., afc the ChristchurcJi Magistrate's Court Yesterday morning, and was formally charged with the crime. Accused, who was not represented by counsel, seemed in a somewhat dazed and limp condition when he entered tho dock and faced the wrong way. He was wearing a rain coat. In stature he is ratjher below tho average height, and is slightly built. With tho eXcep-. tion of the police officials there were few of tlie public in attendance. Accused did not plead when the charge was read to him. Chief-Detective Herbert asked for a remand till Friday next, at Oxford. Tlie Magistrate granted tho application.

THE INQUEST

Tho inquest on Henrietta Louisa Foster, tho victim of the View Hill | murdei', was held yesterday at View Hill station by Mr T. A. B. Bailey, District Coroner. Dotcctivd-Sergcant represented the police. Tho accused was not represented. William Edward Foster, manager of tho View Hill estate, and father of tho deceased, gave formal evidence of identification. Ho stated that his daughter was about nineteen years of age. Ho last saw her at 7.5 a.m. on Sunday, and she Was then in bed. He then left to go to church at Oxford, tho girl being left alono in the house, the outer doors being shut but not locked. About 3 p.m. ho returned and found his daughter lying dead oh the iloor of tho kitchen; he had been previously advised of her death. Charles Butler had been

in Jlk Gorton's employ at the station for about four years and a half as gardener. When witness left home Butler was milking the cows, and witness had not since seen him.

Ralph Harold Thomson, 17 y.ears of age, attending the Boys' High School, and residing at Station ■ road, Hillsborough, stated that he was residing in the vicinity and visited View Hill station to seo a brother of the deceased. He saw Butler at his wliare, and asked if ho could see Mr Foster. Butler replied that all the family, with tho exception of tho daughter, were away. Witness left Butler and saw the deceased, Henrietta Foster, at the house, and told her that ho had called to borrow some cartridges from her brother. Witness was supplied with them by the deceased. Ho stayed in tho kitchen with deceased about ten minutes, and sho told him that she had got up late and had just got Butler's breakfast; witness presumed that they had had breakfast together. He did not see Butler when he left. Frederick Wm. Gilford Clennick, ploughman on View Hill estate, stated that he saw deceased between 10.30 and 11.30 a.m. on Sunday. Witness was then feeding his horses in the stable to tho rear of the dwelling. When ho saw deceased sho was going towards the meat house, about half a chain from the back door. He then noticed Butler in his shirt sleeves loitering about between the blacksmith's shop and the stable, about three chains away from the house.

AFTER THE CRIME. John Johnson, labourer, employed hy Mr H. A. Knight, Racecourse Hill, stated that he resided at View Hill Post Office, and saw Butler about five minutes to twelve on Sunday; Butler came to witness in the garden there. Butler said, "Oh, Johnson, I've done for Hetty Foster." Witness asked, "You've done what, Charlie?" and Butler repeated his previous remark, and added, "Ring up for Leahy." Butler was dressed in pants, shirt, and boots; no hat. There was blood on his right hand and on his shirt collar and the cuff of tho right sleeve. He was very excited. Witness's wife rang up for the doctor, who communicated with Constable Leahy. Witness kept Butler in conversation till Constable Leahy arrived about 12.40 and took him in charge. Butler had no weapon on him at the time. Ho told witness 'that ho had tried to do away with himself by getting: into Simpson's well; his clothes were wet ud above the knees, and both shirt sleeves were wet to the shoulders. Butler told him that there was not enough water in the well to drown him Robert Mounsey, first aissistant teacher at the Wharenui School, stated

that ho was on holiday, and camo to View Hill £ast Friday. Ho saw Butler at the Post Office shortly after 11 a.m. on Sunday. Butler, who was with Mr Johnson, kept on muttering to himself, "I've done it. I've dono it." Witness, as the result of what ho heard, went to Mr Foster's house, accompanied by Mr Clark. When they reached the liouso tliey got no responso to their knocking, -ana went into tho kitchen, where they found Miss Foster lying dead on tho floor. They entered by the sido door, which was not locked. They then left tho house, and waited outsido till tho arrival of tho constable. No one entered tho building except himself and Mr Clark; they did not interfere with tho body. They saw a blood-stained razor on a table, near the window, and also a piece of paper with writing on it. but they did not touch it. BUTLER AItRESTED. Michael Leahy, constable stationed at Oxford, stated that about 12.30 p.m. on Sunday ho reached View Hill with Dr. Barley, and saw Charles Butlor on tho verandah of tho Post Ofßcc. Witness asked what was tho matter, and Butler replied, "I'm dono. I'm ! done; I killed Hetty Foster." Askod how ho got wet, Butler replied that ho jumped into a well. Witness handj cuffed him, and left him in charge of Johnson and two other men —Messrs Brown and Smith. There was blood on the right shoulder of Butler's shirt, and also on his fingers. With the doctor, witness went to tho kitchen where they found Hetty Foster lying on the floor, face downwards, in a pool of blood. Her head was towards tho range, and her left arm was under tho body; on the left arm was a stocking; in the right hand she had a ncedlo and thread. There did not njipoar to bo any signs of a. struggle. The girl was fully dressed; her throat was cut from ear to ear. On the table near tlio window witness found a razor (pro- , duced); it was covered with blood, and was open. Beside the razor was a piece of paper, on which thoro was ulood. There was written on tho paper: "You will find my body in a well a.t Bunn's house, over tho river." Witness found in Butler's wliare a Post Office Savings Bank book, the signature of Butler in it resembling the writing on the paper. Witness also found a razor case at Butler's whare. There was a considerable amount in tho bank to Butler's credit. Witness then wont to Johnson's, Superiijtendent Xhvyer and Detective-Sergeant Mcllveney (who had arrived in tlio meantime) accompanying him. Witness charged Butler with tlio murder of Hetty Foster: Butlor mado no reply. Later on at tho lock-up at Oxford Butler said: "I supposo I won't see Oxford again." MEDICAL EVIDENCE.

Richard Amor Bngley, medical practitioner, residing at East Oxford, stated that he accompanied Constable Leahy to Mr Foster's house on View Hill Station the previous day. He corroborated Constable Leahy's evidence. Witness heard Butler say, at the Post Office: "I killed Hetty Foster." Witness had mado a post mortem examination, and found tho throat cut right down to tho backbone. There wore no other marks of violence about tho body. Tho clothing. was in a perfectly natural state except that the overall. was unfastened behind at tho waist. The cause of death was syncope, immediately following hemorrhage from the cut throat. Witness said that was all ho knew about what happened on Sunday, but ho had some evidence referring to three weeks and a half before. The Coroner: Does it refer to Butler's state of mind. Witness: Yes; three weeks and aha If ago Butler consulted me, and I sent him to Christcliurch. Sir Foster was present at tho time. The Coroner said that tho evidence referred to by witness was not required | for tho purposes of the present enquiry, but would bo wanted later on, and no doubt tho police would take a note of the matter. THE VERDICT. The Coroner found the following verdict: —"Tho deceased died at View Hill, near Oxford, tin tho Bth. day of April t 1917, that her death was due to syneopo following on her throat being cut, and the evidence points to the faC>t that her throat was cut by Charles Butler, an efflployeo on the View Hill Estate.'' FUNERAL OF~THE VICTIM. • Tho funeral of Miss Foster is to take ploco on Thursday, leaving View Hill at 1 T>.m. for the Roman Oa.tholic Church, an.d thence to tho Oxford Cemetery.